Among the chapters of the Qurʼān most intimately connected to the Ahl al-Bayt is Sūrah al-Insān — the 76th chapter, also known as Sūrat al-Dahr. Classical Sunni and non-Sunni exegetes alike have recorded the tradition that this Sūrah — or specifically its verses 5–9 — was revealed in connection with an event involving Sayyiduna ʿAlī, Sayyidah Fāṭimah رضوان الله عليهما, and their household. The event and the Qurʼānic response to it offer one of the most extraordinary windows into the spiritual character of the Prophet’s family ﷺ.
The Event: Three Days of Charity
The classical exegetical tradition records that Sayyiduna ʿAlī and Sayyidah Fāṭimah رضوان الله عليهما — along with their household — fasted for three consecutive days. On each day, as the time to break the fast arrived, a person in need appeared at their door: a poor man, then an orphan, then a captive. On each occasion, they gave their food — the only food they had to break their fast — to the one at their door, and themselves broke their fast with only water. The verses of Sūrah al-Insān, in the view of many classical commentators, were revealed in response to this act of extraordinary generosity.
The Qurʼānic Testimony
Allāh ﷻ says in Sūrah al-Insān (76:5–9): “Indeed the righteous shall drink from a cup whose mixture is of kāfūr — a spring from which the servants of Allāh drink, causing it to gush forth abundantly. They fulfil vows and fear a day whose evil is widespread. And they give food despite love for it to the needy, the orphan, and the captive. They say: ‘We feed you only for the sake of Allāh. We desire no reward from you, nor any thanks.'” The phrase “we desire no reward from you, nor any thanks” mirrors the spiritual posture of those who gave their food in silence and asked for nothing in return.
The Scholarly Tradition
Imām al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله and Imām al-Zamakhsharī رحمه الله, among others, recorded this occasion of revelation. While scholars have debated the precise chains of transmission, the connection between this Sūrah and the character of the Ahl al-Bayt is affirmed across the exegetical tradition. The Sūrah stands as a Qurʼānic portrait of what the Prophet’s family ﷺ represented: selfless generosity directed toward those in need, motivated by love of Allāh ﷻ alone, expecting nothing in return.
What This Sūrah Teaches
Sūrah al-Insān is, among other things, a Qurʼānic characterisation of the Ahl al-Bayt’s essential quality. They gave what they loved — to those who needed it most — for the sake of Allāh ﷻ alone. This is the spiritual inheritance the Prophet ﷺ transmitted through his family: a generosity so pure it requires no acknowledgement, a worship so sincere it asks for no reward. Every Muslim who reads this Sūrah with knowledge of its exegetical tradition reads it as a description of those they are commanded to love.
What is the occasion of revelation of Sūrah al-Insān?
The classical exegetical tradition records that the Sūrah — particularly verses 5–9 — was revealed in connection with Sayyiduna ʿAlī, Sayyidah Fāṭimah رضوان الله عليهما, and their household, who gave their food to the needy, the orphan, and the captive across three consecutive days of fasting, saying: “We feed you only for the sake of Allāh.”
How does Sūrah al-Insān describe the Ahl al-Bayt?
As those who fulfil vows, fear the Day of Judgement, give food despite loving it to those in need, and expect no reward or thanks from those they feed — only seeking the pleasure of Allāh ﷻ. This is among the most beautiful Qurʼānic portraits of selfless Islamic character.
Is the connection between Sūrah al-Insān and the Ahl al-Bayt accepted in Sunni tafsīr?
Many classical Sunni exegetes including Imām al-Ṭabarī رحمه الله recorded this tradition. While scholars have assessed its chains variously, the character it describes — selfless generosity for Allāh’s sake alone — is consistent with everything the Sunni sources record about the character of Sayyiduna ʿAlī and Sayyidah Fāṭimah رضوان الله عليهما.